Armenpress
Sept 18 2006

"ARMENIA: 15 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE" PHOTO EXHIBITION KICKS OFF

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: "Armenia: 15 Years of Independence"
photo-exhibition kicked off yesterday at the "Moscow" cinema as
part of the events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Armenian
Independence. The exhibition has been initiated and organized by the
Armenian "Armenpress" news agency.

At the exhibition photos by Martin Shahbazian, Hakob Berberian,
Ruben Mangasarian, Hrayr Baze, German Avagian, Nazik Armenakian,
Zaven Sargsian, Felix Arustamian, Alexander Khachunts, Hayk Bianjian,
Karen Minasian, Karen Mirzoyan have been presented. In parallel with
the opening of the exhibition a three-language (Armenian, French,
Russian) illustrated catalog of photos have been presented which has
been published with the funds provided by the Armenian government.

The Executive Director of "Armenpress" news agency Hrayr Zoryan
said the exhibition is a result of an open competition announced
by the Armenpress news agency. He said a panel of professional
photographers selected 109 photos by 15 photographers from 400
works by 40 photographers. The executive director also said that the
exhibition has already been held in Moscow as part of the Year of
Armenia in Russia and is included in the programs of events which
will be carried out within the framework of Year of Armenia in France.

Hasmik Poghosian, culture and youth affairs minister, said in her
opening speech that it is very pleasant when the events dedicated to
the Armenian Independence kick off by such an exhibition. "By this
exhibition we have an opportunity to see the 15 years of Armenian
Independence through the eyes of photographers and by looking at them
we remember the past 15 years," the minister said.

Deputy Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Karine Khodikian
congratulated the photographers and the organizers and noted that
by collecting pieces they gathered the 15 years of our life. "The
15 years of independence were not easy and consequently it is very
difficult to find relevant words describing them.

Nevertheless, when you watch the photos, you see what you want to
see. Moreover, years later our generations will see in this album
our way to the independence which was full of difficulties but at
the same time full of victories," Khodikian said.

Canadian Armenian photographer Hrayr Baze said the photos presented
at the exhibition are wonderful – historic faces and events, common
people and things, marvelous nature.

"During the 15 years of independence Armenia has prospered. Of course
we also had bad days but the progress is sensitive and visible,
visible in this works as well," Hrayr Baze said. The exhibition will
last until September 24.